Page 9 of The Right to Bear Claws (Hollow Oak Mates #6)

ELIAS

D awn had never felt like such a fragile thing.

Elias sat in his truck outside the Vane Construction compound, watching the first pale light of morning creep across the mountains while Kaia's revelations echoed in his mind.

A childhood bargain with a shadow entity.

Halloween night approaching like a deadline.

His mate caught between worlds by promises she'd been too young to understand.

His bear prowled beneath his skin, desperate to charge back to the inn and stand guard over her sleeping form. But Kaia had finally drifted off around six, exhausted by her nightmare encounter, and Miriam had shooed him away with firm instructions to get some real rest himself.

Instead, he'd driven straight to the family compound, needing the grounding presence of his clan before he lost his mind entirely.

The workshop was already alive with activity when he entered, his brothers moving around the space with the easy efficiency of people who'd worked together for decades. Thorin looked up from the blueprints he'd been reviewing, taking in Elias's rumpled clothes and drawn expression with shrewd eyes.

"Rough night?" he asked.

"You could say that." Elias hung his keys on their designated hook, muscle memory keeping him functional while his thoughts churned. "Where's Dad?"

"Office, going over the invoices," Finn called from beneath the hood of their work truck. "But judging by the look on your face, this isn't about billing disputes."

Magnus emerged from the office trailer, drawn by some paternal instinct that had always amazed his sons. He still commanded attention without effort.

"Son," he said simply, studying Elias's face with the kind of penetrating gaze that had seen through childhood lies and teenage schemes with equal ease. "What's happened?"

"The threat to Kaia is real," Elias said without preamble. "And it's worse than we thought."

The workshop went quiet. Thorin set down his blueprints while Finn slid out from under the truck, both brothers giving him their full attention.

Magnus gestured toward the cluster of chairs they kept for family meetings, settling his considerable bulk into the one that had molded itself to his shape over the years.

"Tell us everything," he said.

So Elias did. The nightmares growing stronger, the entity that knew Kaia's name, the Halloween deadline that hung over them like a sword.

His brothers listened without interruption, but he could see the protective fury building in their expressions as he described the shadow creature's claims on his mate.

"A childhood bargain," Thorin said finally, his voice tight with controlled anger. "That's not legally binding by any supernatural law I know."

"Doesn't matter if it's legal," Finn growled. "Matters if this thing believes it has a claim on her."

"And it does," Magnus said quietly, his weathered face grave. "In the dream realm, belief shapes reality. If this entity has convinced itself that Kaia belongs to it, that conviction becomes a form of supernatural contract."

The words sent ice down Elias's spine. "So we can't fight it legally?"

"Legal challenges won't help here," his father confirmed. "But there are other ways to break unwanted bonds. The question is whether Kaia's strong enough to withstand the process."

"She's stronger than she knows," Elias said with fierce conviction. "But she's also been running and hiding for so long that she doesn't trust her own power."

"Then you need to help her find that trust," Magnus said. "And the best way to do that is through a mate bond that gives her an anchor in the physical world."

Thorin leaned forward in his chair. "You're talking about claiming her."

"I'm talking about courting her properly first," Magnus corrected. "A forced claim, even with good intentions, could shatter what's left of her psychological defenses. She needs to choose the bond freely, understand what it means, and trust that Elias won't use it to control her."

"How long do we have?" Finn asked practically.

"Halloween's in two weeks," Elias said, calculating rapidly. "And according to her dreams, that's when this thing plans to collect."

"Two weeks to court a traumatized mate who doesn't fully understand supernatural bonds," Thorin summarized. "No pressure there."

"It's enough time," Magnus said firmly. "If you do it right. No grand gestures, no overwhelming displays of alpha dominance. Just steady presence, consistent care, and giving her space to realize she's safe with you."

This was why he'd come to his family first, before panic could override good judgment. The Vanes had been making successful matches for generations, and Magnus had guided more than one of his sons through the delicate process of supernatural courtship.

"What about the clan?" he asked. "How do we handle integrating her when she's still learning to trust?"

"Same way we've been handling it," Thorin said with a slight smile. "Include her naturally, don't make a big production out of acceptance. Sunday dinners, casual invitations to family events, treating her like she's already one of us."

"Which she is," Finn added. "Mate bond or no mate bond, she's family now. Anyone who threatens her threatens all of us."

The simple declaration made Elias's bear rumble with satisfaction. This was pack behavior at its finest, the instinctive protection of the clan extending to cover his chosen mate without question or hesitation.

"I'll need backup," he said, thinking through the practical challenges ahead. "If this entity can reach her through dreams, then she's vulnerable every time she sleeps. The Night Guard rotations?—"

"Already covered," Magnus interrupted. "Lucien stopped by yesterday evening, updated me on the supernatural threat assessment. We've coordinated with the Council to ensure round-the-clock protection without making it obvious we're babysitting her."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning there will always be a Vane or a Guard member somewhere nearby, but disguised as normal town business.

" Thorin pulled out a tablet, showing him a schedule that covered the next two weeks.

"Construction projects near the inn, supply deliveries to neighboring businesses, patrol routes that happen to include regular check-ins. "

Elias studied the schedule, impressed despite his worry. His family had thought of everything, creating a net of protection that would keep Kaia safe without making her feel smothered.

"What about her emotional state?" he asked. "The nightmares are wearing her down, making her doubt herself. She's starting to believe she's more danger than she's worth."

"Then you remind her otherwise," Magnus said simply. "Every day, in small ways. Show her what it's like to be valued, protected, cherished. Make sure she understands that her safety and happiness matter to people who don't want anything from her in return."

"And if she's not ready for a mate bond by Halloween?"

Magnus was quiet for a long moment, considering possibilities that made Elias's stomach clench with dread.

"Then we fight," his father said finally. "All of us, together, whatever it takes. The supernatural community has ways of dealing with entities that threaten our own. It won't be easy, and there's no guarantee we'll win, but we don't abandon family."

"Speaking of which," Finn said with a thoughtful expression, "what's our girl doing for lunch today? Because I was thinking it might be nice if some of us happened to be working on the inn's front steps around noon. You know, checking for loose boards, making sure everything's structurally sound."

The transparent excuse made Elias smile for the first time all morning. "She usually eats with Miriam around twelve-thirty. Helps with the afternoon tea service."

"Perfect," Thorin said, already reaching for his tool belt. "Finn and I can handle the 'structural inspection' while you happen to stop by for... what's a good excuse?"

"Dropping off Miriam's monthly invoice," Magnus suggested with twinkling eyes. "Always takes at least an hour to discuss payment schedules and upcoming projects."

"You're all terrible at subtlety," Elias said, but he welcomed the blatant scheming. This was what Kaia had been missing her entire life: family who cared enough to meddle, people who would move heaven and earth to make sure she felt loved and protected.

"Subtlety's overrated," Finn declared cheerfully. "Besides, our future sister-in-law needs to get used to having Vanes in her business. Might as well start now."

Future sister-in-law. The casual certainty in his youngest brother's voice made Elias's bear practically rumble with satisfaction. His family had already accepted Kaia completely, ready to fold her into their chaotic, loving dynamic without reservation.

"All right," he said, standing and straightening his shoulders. "Let's go court my mate."

"Now you're talking," Magnus said approvingly. "But remember, son—patience. Let her set the pace. Your job is to be steady and available, not to push her toward decisions she's not ready to make."

"And if my bear gets impatient?"

"Then you remind him that the best alphas are the ones who earn their mates' trust instead of demanding it," his father said with the wisdom of decades. "Real strength isn't about claiming what you want. It's about being worthy of being chosen."

By eleven-thirty, Elias found himself back in town with a folder of completely legitimate invoices and a chest full of nervous energy.

The plan was simple: spend time with Kaia in natural, low-pressure situations while his family provided subtle backup.

Show her what it felt like to be have people who cared about her wellbeing without expecting anything in return.

But as he walked toward the inn, he couldn't shake the memory of her terror from that morning, the way she'd clung to him like he was the only solid thing in a world gone mad. Whatever was hunting her was getting stronger, more focused. They were running out of time.

His bear snarled at the thought, protective instincts demanding immediate action.

Mark her, claim her, make sure everyone knew she was under his protection.

But Magnus was right about the importance of patience.

Kaia had spent too many years being pushed around by forces beyond her control.

The last thing she needed was another one trying to make decisions for her, even with the best intentions.

So he would court her properly, give her time to choose, and pray that two weeks would be enough to build the foundation of trust they'd need to face whatever Halloween brought.

Because losing her wasn't an option his bear was willing to consider.